PVT John Benavidez Rodriguez

courtesy of Des Philippet

PVT John Benavidez Rodriguez was born 27 Sep 1917 in Santa Rita, New Mexico. He was the oldest of the 3 children born to Marcelo Madrid and Lucia (Benavidez) Rodriguez. His father worked at various jobs including meat packing. John married Jennie Romero about 1935 and in 1936 they had a daughter followed by a son just a year later. In 1940 John was working for the Works Progress Administration on flood control projects and earning a reported 1939 income of $700.

Although he had registered for the draft in 1940, John wasn't drafted until March 1944 and was working as a farm hand at that time. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater. PVT Rodriguez was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry on 25 Oct 1944 and participated in the fighting at Baesweiler, Setterich and Koslar before being killed in action at Koslar on 27 Nov 1944.

PVT Rodriguez rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.